Dr. Stephen Liu Named ABS Chair, Colorado School of Mines

HOUSTON – ABS has announced the appointment of Stephen Liu to the American Bureau of Shipping Endowed Chair in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines.

This chair appointment is the most recent in a longstanding ABS commitment to education. "Encouraging students in engineering is crucial to the future of the industry," Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS chairman, president and CEO, said. "The caliber of people in leadership roles at universities like the Colorado School of Mines is one of the keys to ensuring these institutions continue to produce the quality engineers who will develop technologies that will determine the future of the industry."

By mentoring and working with Colorado School of Mines engineering students, Liu is in a position to prepare them to meet the challenges of a changing landscape. "It is properly trained students from leading universities who have the potential to make a better world," Wiernicki said.

According to Michael Kaufman, dean of the College of Applied Science and Engineering, Liu is a perfect fit for this chair. Liu has worked cooperatively with ABS for a number of years, working on ABS-supported research and co-organizing and conducting workshops on topics, such as underwater welding and corrosion control. "I wish him great success in his new position, which is of critical importance to ABS and the marine industry," he said.

The company says that Liu's expertise in multiple fields relevant to the marine industry makes him a clear choice for the post. He has extensive experience in a range of fields, including such disciplines as marine materials, manufacturing, fabrication, corrosion, welding, joining, forging and casting.

Liu, who earned his PhD in metallurgical engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, has taught there for nearly three decades and also serves as director of the Center for Welding, Joining, and Coatings Research. He recently added the Halil Kaya Gedik Award from the International Institute of Welding to his numerous honors and was named Jaeger Lecturer Award winner in 2014.